Mississippi seniors 65 and older receive an additional $7,500 homestead exemption on their property's assessed value, with no income limit attached. At the state's 10 percent residential assessment ratio, that $7,500 of assessed value corresponds to $75,000 of the home's true market value. This guide explains Mississippi senior property tax relief, how it stacks with the base homestead exemption, and how to file before the April 1 deadline.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- How Mississippi Homestead Exemptions Work
- Mississippi Senior Property Tax Relief: The 65+ Additional Exemption
- Mississippi Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
- How to Apply
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Mississippi Homestead Exemptions Work
Every owner-occupant in Mississippi can claim a base homestead exemption on their primary residence. The senior exemption is additional, stacked on top of the standard homestead exemption for qualifying applicants.
Mississippi assesses residential property at 10 percent of true value. So a home worth $150,000 on the market has an assessed value of $15,000. Property tax millage rates are applied to that assessed value, not the market price. That means exemptions measured in assessed-value dollars represent a larger slice of the home's actual market value.
Millage rates vary significantly across Mississippi's 82 counties and by municipality. Total effective millage for a homeowner can range from under 50 mills in rural areas to well over 100 mills in cities. The higher the millage rate, the more valuable each dollar of assessed-value exemption becomes.
All homestead exemptions in Mississippi are administered at the county level. There is no state portal. You apply with your county tax assessor.
The Standard Homestead Exemption
Mississippi's standard homestead exemption applies to any owner-occupant's primary residence. It provides a tiered reduction in assessed value, with the size of the reduction depending on the home's assessed value. The senior additional exemption adds on top of whatever the standard exemption provides.
If you have never filed for the standard homestead exemption on your Mississippi home, do that at the same time you apply for the senior exemption. The two go together and are filed with the same office in the same window.
Mississippi Senior Property Tax Relief: The 65+ Additional Exemption
Homeowners who are 65 or older (or who are totally disabled at any age) receive an additional $7,500 of assessed value exempt from all property taxes on their homestead.
There is no income test. Mississippi does not condition this senior exemption on household income, so it applies whether your income is modest or comfortable.
What the $7,500 means in practice depends on millage rates, which vary by county and municipality. But to frame it: at a $7,500 assessed-value exemption and a total millage rate of 100 mills (a common midrange figure in Mississippi), the annual savings work out to $750. Higher millage areas save more; lower millage areas save less. Ask your county assessor for the exact millage rates in your area.
Totally disabled homeowners qualify under the same provision, regardless of age. If disability rather than age is the qualifying basis, bring documentation of your disability status when you apply.
What "assessed value" means for seniors
It is worth being precise here because the $7,500 figure can seem small if you are thinking in terms of market value. It is not a $7,500 reduction in your tax bill; it is a $7,500 reduction in the assessed value used to calculate your bill.
Your county assessor assigns a tax-assessed value to your home, which by law is 10 percent of appraised true value. The exemption removes $7,500 from that assessed value before millage rates are multiplied in. At 100 mills, removing $7,500 from the assessed base saves $750 per year. At 120 mills, the same exemption saves $900. At 80 mills, $600.
The savings compound with the standard homestead exemption, which also reduces the assessed base. Seniors who have both exemptions in place are taxed on a significantly reduced assessed value compared to a non-senior homeowner with the same property value.
Property taxes and senior care affordability
For seniors on fixed incomes, property taxes often rank alongside utilities and insurance as a major recurring expense that competes directly with health care and home maintenance. Reducing the annual tax bill by several hundred dollars can meaningfully extend how long a senior can afford to stay in their home independently.
That is why Mississippi senior property tax relief matters beyond the dollar amounts: it is one of the lower-friction ways to free up cash flow without selling the home or taking on debt. The exemption does not require refinancing, a new application process with a lender, or giving up any equity. You file once, and the savings recur each year automatically.
If the savings from the exemption are not enough and you are weighing larger options, our guide on reverse mortgages and senior care covers how home equity can fund care without requiring a move.
Mississippi Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
| Exemption | Who qualifies | Assessed value exempted | Income limit | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard homestead exemption | Owner-occupants of primary residence | Varies by exemption tier | None | January 1 - April 1 |
| Additional senior exemption | Homeowners 65+ or totally disabled | Additional $7,500 AV ($75,000 true value at 10% ratio) | None | January 1 - April 1 |
The two exemptions apply together. An eligible senior does not choose one or the other.
How to Apply
File with your county tax assessor's office between January 1 and April 1 of the tax year you want the exemption to apply. Missing April 1 means waiting until the next application window.
What to bring:
- Proof of age. A driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate showing you are 65 or older.
- Proof of residency. The home must be your primary residence. A utility bill or your voter registration at that address typically works.
- Proof of ownership. Your deed or property tax parcel number.
- Disability documentation (if applying on that basis rather than age).
The Mississippi Department of Revenue Homestead Exemption page lists requirements and links to county contacts. If you are new to Mississippi or recently turned 65, apply as soon as January 1 rather than waiting. First-time applicants sometimes need extra documentation, and the April 1 deadline does not extend.
After the initial filing
Once your application is approved, the senior exemption typically carries forward automatically as long as you continue to own and occupy the home as your primary residence. You do not need to refile every year simply because you are a year older.
However, changes that can affect eligibility include: selling the property, moving to a different primary residence, or a change in ownership structure (such as adding a co-owner). If your situation changes, notify the county assessor.
If you missed the window in a prior year, ask the assessor whether a corrective filing is possible. Offices vary, but some counties allow retroactive adjustments for the year immediately past.
What to bring to the assessor's office
Go prepared. The more documentation you have at the first visit, the faster the process:
- Driver's license or state ID (confirms age and Mississippi address)
- Property deed or tax parcel number
- Recent property tax statement (helps the assessor find your parcel quickly)
- Utility bill at the address if your driver's license shows a different address
- Disability documentation if applying on that basis
Managing property taxes is often part of a broader plan for affording care. If you are weighing whether to stay in the home or use home equity to fund care, our guide on selling or renting your home for senior care walks through the tradeoffs.
Questions about Mississippi property taxes or affording care? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for personalized guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mississippi's additional homestead exemption for seniors 65 and older has no income test. You qualify based on age and owner-occupancy of your primary residence.
Applications must be filed between January 1 and April 1. Missing that window means the exemption does not apply for that tax year. File early to avoid problems with missing documents.
Yes, as long as at least one qualifying owner (65+ or totally disabled) occupies the home as a primary residence. Contact your county assessor to confirm the documentation needed for co-owned properties.
It applies to the assessed value of your homestead, which is the primary residence and a limited amount of surrounding land. Additional parcels or outbuildings may not qualify. Ask your county assessor about parcel boundaries.
As of this writing, the confirmed exemption is $7,500 of assessed value, verified to the Mississippi Department of Revenue's official page. Some reports reference pending legislation that may increase this amount. Any change would require final legislative action and state confirmation before it applies. Check with your county assessor for the most current figure when you apply.
Learn More
- Senior Property Tax Relief by State
- How to Pay for Senior Care
- Selling or Renting Your Home to Pay for Senior Care
- Reverse Mortgages and Senior Care
Find personalized help with Mississippi senior property tax relief and senior care financing at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.